Globalisation and citizenship education: diversity in South Korean civics textbooks

Abstract

This study examines how textbooks in the Republic of Korea incorporate liberal, Western notions of diversity and multiculturalism. Through a systematic analysis of 60 civics textbooks over time, this study shows that ideas of multiculturalism and diversity have dramatically increased in the South Korean intended curriculum. While in the past, textbooks depicted South Korean society as racially and ethnically homogenous with little or no mention of disadvantaged groups or ethnic minorities, starting in the 1990s, textbooks increasingly discuss the rights of diverse groups and the need to empower these groups to address problems of social inequality. Yet, traditional citizenship narratives of national homogeneity still remain, especially in textbooks that discuss prospects for the reunification of the Korean peninsula.

Notes on contributor

Rennie Moon is an Assistant Professor at the Underwood International College at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

Notes

In 2006, for instance, the United Nations Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination criticised South Korea for its celebration of ethnic homogeneity and for lacking appropriate measures and mechanisms for dealing with and respecting foreigners.

In general, Koreans use the pejorative term honhyol-ah, or ‘mixed blood child’ to refer to ‘interracial children’, including children born to American servicemen and Korean women – often referred to as Amerasians in other countries such as the United States. At least 60,000 Amerasians were born in Korea since the Korean War.

The Korea Government-Authorized Textbook Corporation declined to release this information to the author.

The 12 publishing companies are Visang Kyoyuk, Samhwa Publishers, Mirae-n, Daekyo, Kyohaksa, Jihaksa, Bobmunsa, Chunjae Kyoyuk, The Text, Doosan Donga, Kumsung Publishers, and Institute for Better Education.

Since indigenous populations do not exist in Korea, textbooks discuss the rights of indigenous peoples in other national contexts such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.